Activities of Barbara MATERA related to 2017/2015(INI)
Plenary speeches (1)
Gender equality in EU trade agreements (debate) IT
Shadow reports (1)
REPORT on gender equality in EU trade agreements PDF (517 KB) DOC (93 KB)
Amendments (40)
Amendment 1 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 2
Citation 2
– having regard to Articles 8, 10, 153(1), 153(2), 157 and 15207 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,
Amendment 2 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 10 a (new)
Citation 10 a (new)
– having regard to the Commission’s report of 13 September 2017 on the Implementation of the Trade Policy Strategy ‘Trade for All’;
Amendment 32 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas trade policies should aim to reduce socio-economic gaps between the Global North and the Global South in terms of development and wealth, andcan contribute to the development and wealth of women, to reduce gaps between women and men, and realisze women’s rights by ensuring decent work conditions for women and finally by contributing to sustainable and equitable economic development while expanding opportunities for women entrepreneurship, access to apprenticeships and work and employment;
Amendment 39 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
Aa. Whereas according to a 2017 study of the European Commission almost 12 million women in the EU have jobs that depend on the exports of goods and services to the rest of the world1a; __________________ 1a http://trade.ec.europa.eu/doclib/docs/2017 /june/tradoc_155632.pdf
Amendment 60 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)
Recital B a (new)
Ba. whereas the impacts of trade liberalisation on individuals depends also on their geographical localisation and the sector of their economic activities;
Amendment 69 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas the current EU trade policy and its ‘Trade for All’ strategy lack a gender equality perspective, as well as any binding obligations to enforce core women’s rights conventions such as the CEDAWis based on three key principles: effectiveness, transparency and values; whereas in order to make trade policy benefit as many people as possible it should include a reference to a gender equality perspective;
Amendment 72 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)
Recital C a (new)
Ca. Whereas following the provisions included in the CEDAW, the EU should provide the basis for realizing equality between women and men through ensuring women's equal access to, and equal opportunities in, political, economical and public life as well as education, health and employment.
Amendment 82 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas the only area of gender equality in which DG Trade has demonstrated an interest so far isDG Trade should make more quantitative gender-disaggregated research in order to focus on matters such as business, science, and technology in order to promotinge female entrepreneurship;
Amendment 87 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)
Recital D a (new)
Da. whereas, according to the International Trade Centre, 40% of the world’s SMEs are owned by women;
Amendment 89 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. whereas a review of current EU multilateral and bilateral agreements shows that only 20 % of the agreements with non-European trading partners make reference to women’s rights, and thatstudy recently published by the Commission shows that a gender gap persists in terms of opportunities for access to jobs and that, in 2011, only 40 38% of these agreements include references that aim to promote gender equality; whereas references in these agreements to promoting women’s empowerment are voluntary and almost all relate to non-trading aspects of the agreementsjobs supported by exports to the rest of the world were occupied by women; whereas another study shows that promoting women’s equality could increase global GDP by USD 28 billion by 2025;
Amendment 96 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)
Recital E a (new)
Ea. whereas there is a crucial need of recognising and better understanding gender specific impacts of trade liberalisation to deliver adequate policy responses.
Amendment 101 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital F
Recital F
F. whereas strong movements have evolved in several countries, criticising, in particular, provisions on investor-state dispute settlement / the investment court system (ISDS/ICS) and intellectual property rights (IPR), as well as non-tariff rules in TTIP, CETA and TiSA, that could lead to breaches of women’schapters on sustainable development should be included in any trade agreement negotiated by the EU, and whereas the purpose of such chapters is to ensure respect of and protection for human rights, labourthe rights, of the environmental protection, consumer rights and public services and good and workers’ rights; whereas the EU’s trade policy should not imply the lowering of any of the EU’s standards, and whereas public services should be excluded from trade negotiations;
Amendment 109 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital G
Recital G
G. whereas in the framework of the Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP) and GSP+ systems, aim toing at ensureing the ratification and implementation of human and labour rights conventions in developing countries, it is crucial to monitor on a regular basis and to take actions when needed and pay particular attention to gender equality;
Amendment 116 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital H
Recital H
H. whereas civil society, particularly women’s rights organisations and trade unions, has the knowledge and potential to strengthen women’s economic empowerment, such as the promotion of women entrepreneurs, becoming informed on the issues faced by women in trade agreements, and collecting data that can broaden our understanding of equality in trade;
Amendment 120 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital H a (new)
Recital H a (new)
Ha. whereas events such as the International Forum on Women and Trade organised by the Commission on 29 June 2017 enable many economic stakeholders and representatives of civil society to exchange and launch initiatives on the impact of trade on gender equality;
Amendment 129 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital I
Recital I
I. whereas special attention must be given to the negative consequences of trade liberapublic services, existing or future services of general interest, and services of general economic interest should be excluded from the negotiations on, and scope of appliscation as regards basic public services and goods, such as water and sanitation, education and healthcareof, any trade agreement concluded by the EU (including, but not limited to, water, health, social services, social security systems, education, waste management and public transport);
Amendment 143 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Stresses that fair and inclusive international trade policies require a clearer framework aiming to enhance women’s livelihoods, strengthen gender equality, protect the environment, and promote social justice and international solidaritytrade can contribute to the development of sustainable growth and job creation; recalls that the EU’s trade policy contributes to the promotion and protection of human rights and the values of the European Union, including gender equality; notes that Article 8 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union stipulates that ‘in all its activities, the Union shall aim to eliminate inequalities, and to promote equality, between men and women’;
Amendment 152 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Stresses that the EU’s trade strategy entitled ‘Trade for All’ does not mention gender equality; calls on the Commission to take this dimension into account in the conduct of its trade policy and stresses that trade negotiations may make it possible to promote gender equality on the international scene and ensure that both women and men can benefit from the advantages of trade liberalisation and be protected from its negative effects;
Amendment 158 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 b (new)
Paragraph 1 b (new)
1b. Stresses how few data are available on the impact of trade on gender equality; with that in mind, calls for more data to be gathered on this topic; stresses that collecting this type of information will make it possible to improve analysis of the situation, establish a methodology and improve the definition of the objectives and measures to be taken to ensure that women benefit more from trade;
Amendment 161 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 c (new)
Paragraph 1 c (new)
1c. Notes that the Report on the Implementation of the Trade Policy Strategy ‘Trade for All’ of 13 September 2017 mentions gender equality in trade and specifies that it is essential to improve our understanding of the impact of trade instruments on gender equality; further notes the view expressed in the report that addressing gender equality would help ensure that the benefits of trade reach everyone, and by the same token maximise the overall gains from trade opportunities; calls on the Commission to continue its work on this matter and supply information and data as soon as possible;
Amendment 164 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Insists that all international trade policies must be based ontrade policy could make it possible to promote the relevant international standards and legal instruments on gender equality, such as the CEDAW, the Beijing Platform for Action and the sustainable development goals (SDGs);
Amendment 178 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Underlines the urgent need to adoptneed for a consideration for gender-sensitive bindingattention to human rights regulationand provide guidelines on an international level to regulate transnational companies (TNCs) and other companieTNCs; welcomes the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights;
Amendment 180 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Calls on Commission and Member States for a combined policy intervention to promote greater gender equality in the distribution of the employment opportunities offered by exports such as education and vocational training policies;
Amendment 186 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. InsistRecalls that all international trade agreements must include safeguard clauses enabling the contracting parties to regulate and also reverse liberalisation in order to protect fundamental objectives such as gender equality, human rights, public health and environmental sustainabian ambitious sustainable development chapter with the aim of enhancing social and environmental standards, as well as respect for human rights, which also encompass gender equality;
Amendment 195 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Underlines the need to recognise the risks inherent in trade agreement mechanisms such as ISDS and ICS, which undermine the capacity of individual governments to change their laws to include measures to promote gender equalityRecalls the ongoing process led by the EU to develop a new system for settling disputes between investors and states; recalls that the European Parliament advocates the need to ensure, among other things, stronger labour and consumer rights and advancement in environmental policiesansparency and the right to regulation on the part of the states which will be responsible for carrying out this reform;
Amendment 202 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Notes that IPR provisions in trade can have a significantn impact on women’s health which must be taken carefully; calls for this aspect to be taken into consideration;
Amendment 204 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Calls for regular events and meetings to be held on gender equality in EU trade agreements with the participation of representatives of the institutions and economic and civil society stakeholders with a view to creating synergy on this issue, holding discussions and setting common objectives;
Amendment 209 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Underlines that basic public services and goods, such as water and sanitation, education and healthcare (notably acPoints out that current and future public services, services of general interest and servicess to sexual and reproductive health and rights services),of general economic interest should be exemptcluded from the scopening up of public procu of application of the agreement and the trade liberalisation agenda, and that safeguards must be put in place to reinforce states’ capacities to provide bas(including, but not limited to, water, health, social services, social security systems, education, waste management and public transport); points out that EU, national and local authorities must retain the full right to introduce, adopt, maintain or repeal any measures with regard to the commissioning, organisation, funding and provision of public services for all;
Amendment 229 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Calls for binding measures to combating exploitation and improve working and living conditions for women in the export- oriented industries, in particular the garment and textile manufacturing and agriculture sectors where trade liberalisation has contributed to precarious labour rights and gender wage gap, to follow the objective of improving the living conditions of women in these countries and sectors;
Amendment 244 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Underlines that the impact of growing agricultural exports ise need for a consideration for genderally less favourable to women than to men, as emerging trends indicate that small farmers, many of whom are women, are often not in a position to compete in overseas marke-sensitive attention to human rights and provide guidelines on an international level to TNCs; welcomes the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights;
Amendment 249 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Insists that binding instruments are needed in EU trade policy to ensure that deccertain elements of EU trade policy, such as the presence of a chapter on sustainable development work standards, women’s rights, human rights principles and environmental protection are at the core of all types of EU trade agreements and that EU trade policy is coherent with the Union’s overarching aims of GSP+ systems, and the monitoring thereof, help promote and uphold human rights, including gender equality, workers’ rights and environmental protection; recalls the overriding importance of consistency between EU trade policy and Union policy as a whole; stresses that EU trade policy contributes to the pursuit of many aims, including sustainable development, poverty reduction and the promotion of gender equality;
Amendment 256 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11a. Calls on the Commission to take gender equality into account when preparing and drafting impact assessments for the purpose of opening trade negotiations; stresses that taking this into account will provide a first glimpse of the benefits that could be gained from a future trade agreement and predict the impact of new trade relations on gender equality;
Amendment 264 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. CRecalls for all EU trade agreements to include binding clauses, in the form of a stand-alone article, that promote and protect women’s rights, gender equality and gender mainstreaming, based on the Beijing Platform for Action and the SDGs, with an appropriate body appointed or an explicit mechanism in place to monitor complianceits request, in respect of trade negotiations with Chile, for the inclusion of a specific chapter on trade, gender equality and the empowerment of women; emphasises that the proposal to include such a dedicated chapter in a trade agreement is now becoming reality for the first time; stresses the need to be informed of the content of this chapter and evaluate it with a view to subsequently taking decisions at a more general level; urges the EU to introduce cross-cutting measures in trade agreements in order to promote gender equality, exchange best practices and enable women to derive greater benefit from trade agreements;
Amendment 274 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. StressesPoints out that trading commitments in EU agreements should neverot overrule human rights, women’s rights or environmental concerns; stresses the importance of enforcing the provisions of agreements on these issues, including chapters on sustainable development;
Amendment 279 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13a. Recalls the importance of SMEs in the EU’s economic structure; calls on the Commission to continue its efforts to support SMEs – particularly in public procurement, with a view to ensuring that micro enterprises and SMEs play a greater role – and to develop specific measures for SMEs owned by women;
Amendment 284 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Is convinced that the CEDAW is of great importance for all policy areas, including trade; invites the Commission, therefore, to take action in this contextthe necessary steps to enable the EU’'s accession to and ratification of the CEDAW Convention, and to include CEDAW as an instrument in trade agreementsand to incorporate the principle of equality of men and women in Member states' legal systems, abolishing all discriminatory laws and adopting appropriate ones prohibiting discrimination against women;
Amendment 290 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Calls for the EU and the Member States to ensure that binding clauses on labour rights, based on the ILO Conventions, includingReiterates that trade agreements should contain far-reaching commitments on all core labour rights in line with fundamental Conventions of the ILO, and calls for the EU and the Member States to take into particular consideration ILO Conventions No 189 con Dcerning decent work for domestic Wworkers and No 156 on Workers with Family Responsibilities, are included in trade agreements, and that social clauses in trade agreements also apply to informal works it globally addresses the needs for workers to be covered by labour law; asks for social rights, non-discrimination and equal treatment to be taken into account in trade agreements;
Amendment 298 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Acknowledges thatStresses the importance of monitoring the implementation of the EU’s Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP) and GSP+ systems need to be improved by linking economic incentives to the effective adoption and constant monitoring of core human, gender and labour rights conventions, particularly in respect of the implementation of core conventions; points out that among the GSP + conventions that are pending ratification and implementation are the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women of 1979 , Convention No 111, concerning Discrimination in Respect of Employment and Occupation, and Convention No 100, concerning Equal Remuneration for Men and Women Workers for Work of Equal Value; points out that the upholding and implementing such conventions helps further gender equality;
Amendment 312 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Calls for EU legislation similar to UN binding due diligence obligations to ensure respect for human rights, including women’s rights, and adequate social and environmental standardsUrges the EU to foster international cooperation on gender equality in trade relations and encourages the WTO to take this dimension into account in its trade policy; stresses the importance of also addressing this issue in other international and multilateral organisations and forums, such as the UN, World Bank or OECD, with a view to ensuring that women derive greater benefits from international trade;
Amendment 331 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)
Paragraph 18 a (new)
18a. Calls on the Commission to evaluate, in order to create favourable conditions for the participation of women to the opportunities offered by the free trade agreements, the possibility to build up pre-apprenticeship training programs for providers, employers, workforce practitioners, and other industry stakeholders to network with their peers from across the EU and learn from a variety of successful program models;